Rhode Island § 2-12-11 - Forest Fires and Prevention

§ 2-12-11. Fire fighting by fire chiefs and senior officers — Summons of assistance.

If a fire occurs in woodland, the fire chief, and the senior officer of the district in which the fire occurs, shall immediately take any measures that may be necessary, including backfiring and plowing, to control or extinguish the fire, and shall investigate the causes of fire and report the causes to the director. Any fire chief or senior officer has the authority to summon any use of bulldozers, trucks, and other property adapted to the purpose. Any person who refuses or neglects to assist or to allow the use of the bulldozers, trucks or other property required, is liable to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100). All active members of an organized fire department shall be called as a unit only, the unit coming under the authority of the officer in charge of the fire department. The fire chief or senior officer in charge of a fire shall keep an account of the time of all persons assisting him or her, and a schedule of all property used.